Fish traders who follow guidelines should import: Azgaonkar

13 Nov 201806:04am IST

13 Nov 201806:04am IST

With tourism stakeholders concerned about a possible dip in arrivals due to the fish import ban, Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar said the government decision should not affect the State’s economy.

“Government decisions should not affect economy. This is peak tourism season. Those who comply with necessary statutory guidelines should be allowed to import fish. Request Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to act accordingly,” the minister tweeted after a series of reaction from various stakeholders.

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has said that the ban is a drastic step. TTAG president Savio Messias said that the tourism industry was not taken into confidence by the government before deciding to ban the import of fish.

Beach shack owners also expressed apprehensions over the ban. Goa Shack Owners’ Welfare Society president Cruz Cardoso said that the six-month ban will have an adverse impact on their business. They have demanded that the government look for an alternative to check fish import.

“The government should extend the deadline to fish traders to obtain all required permissions. We do not want the six-month ban as it will have a huge impact on our trade. Tourists visit Goa for fish apart from scenic beauty but with this ban, there is a fear that tourists might not turn up,” Cardozo had told Herald on Sunday.